Curtain-stretcher frame.



No. 863,223. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

B.B.ROUSH. CURTAIN STRBTGHER FRAME.

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ATTORNEY ELIAS B. ROUSH, OF CANTON, OHIO.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed October 18,1905. Serial No. 283,246.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS B. Ronsrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretcher Frames, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in curtainstretcher frames, designed for use in drying and stretching curtains, draperies, etc, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved device of this class, which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture and efficient in use.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

1 Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is aperspective view of the improved curtain-stretcher frame set up in proper position for use. Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the overlapping end portions of the horizontally-arranged members of the same. Fig. 3, is a cross-sectional view of one of the said members with attached clip. Fig. 4, is a detailed perspective view of the end portion of one of said members provided with strap for taking over the adjacent end supporting-bar. Fig. 5, is a detailed perspective view of one of the overlapping end portions of said members showing horizontally-arranged flangeplate arranged to take into and engage a groove in the adjacent overlapping member. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the corner attachments for the upper horizontally-arranged member and the end supporting-bars. Fig. 7, is a detached view of a portion of one of the end supporting-bars and supporting-bar attached to brace-leg and adapted to be engaged therewith when frame is set up. Fig. 8, is a detailed view of a portion of one of the horizontally-arranged members showing hooks and manner of engaging with grooves formed in said members. Fig. 9, is a cross section of the hori zontally-arranged members showing manner of forming grooves. Fig. 10, is a detailed view of the overlapping portions of the central-bar supporting the horizontallyarranged members.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

Upon referring to the drawings it will be seen that the improved curtain-stretcher frame consists of upper and lower horizontally-arranged overlapping members or bars 1, and 2, having their inner or overlapping ends slidably secured by means of a pair of clips 3, secured at or near the ends of one pair or set of said members and taking over the overlapping ends of the others.

There is mounted and secured upon the inner or under side of the other pair or set of members, a pair of horizontally-arranged flange-plates 4, (see Fig. 5), having a base portion a for-attachment to the members, a stem portion 1), and a flange portion 0, which said stem and flange portions are adapted to take into and engage a groove 5, of L-shape in cross section, formed in the adjacent members It will be seen that like grooves are formed in the members to which the flange-plates 4, are attached, and also in the end-supportingbars 6, to be hereinafter described.

The L-shaped grooves 5, are adapted .to receive and contain a series of curtain-retaining hooks 7, provided with shanks 8 adapted to rest against the sides of the horizontal!y-arranged members 1, and 2, and end-supporting bars 6, and an upper portion 9, bent to conform substantially to the form of the L-shaped grooves 5.

The curtain-retaining hooks 7 are preferably made of tempered brass wire, and the upper portion 9 of the shank 8 is bent first backward and then downward with reference to the point of the hook, thus forming a substantially U-shaped stem; which stem is adapted to be inserted in the groove when the hook is alined therewith, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 8, and when thus inserted to be rotated so that the U-shaped stem will embrace and bind around the flange formed by the L-shaped groove, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 8. It will be noted that by this peculiar formation of the stem of the hook it is impossible to remove the hook from the groove without sliding it to the end of the frame member or without rotating it to be in alinement with the groove. This is a very important advantage in hooks for a curtain frame, because when a hook has once been inserted and rotated transverse the groove it holds its place, and even though numerous hooks are so inserted no one of them can be accidentally displaced and forced out of the groove by an accidental stroke or pressure against the end of the hook. In other words the hook is positively held in the groove because any pressure from the hook along the shank will be met by the abutment of the cross part of the U-shaped stem against the flat side of the groove.

The upper member or bar 1, of the frame is supported upon the ends of a pair of end-supporting-bars 6, pivotally secured thereto by means of clips 10, secured at or near the ends of the upper member or bar 1, and forming the connection of said supporting-bars 6', at the upper corners of the frame.

The lower member or bar 2, is adjustably secured to the end supporting-bars 6, by means of straps 1]., secured to its ends and taking over the end supportingbars whereby the same may be adjusted vertically along the same and secured in the position desired by means of the thumb-screws 11 mounted in the ends of the straps 11.

The upper and lower member or bars 1, and 2, are further supported by means of a central two-part bar 12, mounted and interposed between the upper and lower members or bars 1, and 2, and the members of said two-part bar are adjustably secured together by means of clips 13, taking over the overlapping ends, and an adjusting thumb-screw 14.

The upper member or bar 1, and the side-supportingbars 6, near the upper corners thereof, are connected by a tWopart brace-bar 15 pivoted at or near the center thereof, and adapted to hold and support the upper bar 1, and end supporting-bars (3, in their proper position when the improved frame is set up.

The end supporting-bars 6, are supported by means of brace-legs 16, pivotally secured at their upper ends to the side supporting-bars 6, and braced and secured by supporting-bars 17, provided at their ends with openings 18 and recesses 19, extending from said openings 18, adapted to take over and engage a screw-head 20, or a'bolt-head, or equivalent secured in the side of the supporting-bars 6.

It will be understood that by means of the adjustable connections of the various members comprised n my improved curtain-stretcher frame, the same can be adjusted to any desired size as to length and width thereby providing a means for properly stretching different sized curtains, etc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a curtain stretcher frame, an end-wise extensible bar consisting of overlapping members, there being a longitudinal Lshaped groove in the abutting face of one member, and a longitudinal Lshaped flange on the contiguous face of the other member adapted to operate in the groove.

2. A curtain-stretcher i'rame comprising upper and lower bars consisting of overlapping adjustable members and supporting bars secured thereto, L-shaped grooves longi tudinally formed in the faces of the bars, and a series of hooks having substantially U-shaped stems adapted to be inserted in the grooves when alined therewith, and to bind in the grooves when rotated out of such alinement.

3. In a curtain-stretcher frame, a pair of horizontally arranged bars consisting of overlapping adjustable mem bers, L-shaped grooves formed therein, and a pair of L shaped flanges secured to the inner or under side of one pair of adjustable members and taking into and engaging the L-shaped grooves of the adjacent members.

4. In a curtain-stretcher frame, the combination with overlapping members provided with Lshaped grooves, of an L-shaped flange secured to one of the members and adapted to take into and engage the Lshaped groove of the adjacent member, and a clip secured to one of the members and taking over the other.

In a curtain-stretcher frame, the combination of a series of members adjustably secured together and provided with L-shaped grooves and a series of hooks having substantially U-shaped stems adapted to be inserted in the grooves when alined therewith and to bind in the grooves when rotated out of such alinement.

6. In a curtain-stretcher frame, the combination with overlapping members provided with L-shaped grooves; of an L-shaped flange secured to one of the members and consisting of a base portion, and a stem and flange portion adapted to take into and engage the Lshaped groove of the adjacent member.

7. In a curtain-stretcher, an L-shaped groove in the face of the frame and a series of hooks having substantially "KI-shaped stems adapted to be inserted in the groove when alined therewith and to bind in the groove when rotated out of such alinement.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIAS B. ROUSH.

Witnesses Onuo C. BILLMAN, MINNIE F. ANTHONY. 

